1849 Sauvé's Crevasse map showing east-west flow of Bayou Metairie
The geologic record indicates that the Mississippi River 2600 years ago followed a course that became Bayou Metairie. This flow pattern gave rise to river banks through alluvial deposition in that location. With time, the course of the river shifted to its present day location, leaving behind a stranded waterway that was Bayou Metairie. Its river banks of its past course remained as the long narrow strip of higher ground that is known as the Metairie - Gentilly Ridge.[1] This ridge as it followed Bayou Metairie was as much as a mile wide at its beginning, becoming much narrower as it progressed eastward, with a height of approximately seven feet.[2] Water flow from the Mississippi River into Bayou Metairie was intermittent until approximately the year 1700 when it had ceased completely.[3]
Bayou Metairie meandered 20 miles eastward through present-day Jefferson Parish and Orleans Parish, following a path approximately parallel to the present course of the Mississippi River. Eventually Bayou Metairie developed a northward outlet to Lake Pontchartrain, the outlet becoming known as Bayou St. John. The sections east of Bayou St. John came to be known as Bayou Savage and Bayou Gentilly.[1] The locations of these distributaries and the Metairie - Gentilly Ridge can be seen in the 1849 Sauvé's Crevasse map.
Bayou Metairie and the narrow, elevated banks that comprise the Metairie - Gentilly Ridge had long been used by indigenous people in pre-colonial times.[4] Subsequently, the land on the ridge was mostly used for small farms and gardens, being fertile soil on high ground, in centuries past of the region. Only intermittently was Bayou Metairie navigable, and then only by small boats, depending on wind and tide.[1] Small colonial farms were established by 1708, pre-dating the city of New Orleans.[5] In the early history of New Orleans, smugglers and runaway slaves made use of Bayou Metairie and the accompanying ridge.[3]
As urban development continued in the region in the late 19th century and early 20th century, Bayou Metairie was filled in, with only remnants persisting by the early 1900s. Some of the remnants include the area around Dueling Oaks in New Orleans City Park and the lagoons in the lower part of City Park.[3] Early real estate developers promoted the location based on its easy access to New Orleans.[3] The Metairie - Gentilly Ridge, which followed part of the course of Bayou Metairie, is presently occupied by Metairie Road in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana.[1]
Indigenous people in the region referred to Bayou Metairie as "Bayou Tchoupitoulas", while Spanish settlers knew it as "Arroyo de la Alqueria". French settlers referred to the Metairie - Gentilly Ridge as "Chemin de la Métairie".[1]
Galleryedit
Remnant of Bayou Metairie in New Orleans City Park
Remnant of Bayou Metairie as "The Lake" at Metairie Cemetery in New Orleans
Peristyle at New Orleans City Park at a lagoon which is a remnant of Bayou Metairie
Referencesedit
^ abcdefCampanella, Richard (March 8, 2017). "When a Bayou Ran Through Metairie: Once-Scenic Waterway Helped Shape New Orleans Cityscape". New Orleans Times-Picayune. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
^Hémard, Ned. "New Orleans Nostalgia: Higher Ground" (PDF). neworleansbar.org. New Orleans Bar Association. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
^ abcdCampanella, Richard (March 10, 2017). "The Flow and Ebb of Bayou Metairie". New Orleans Times Picayune.
^Swanson, Betsy (2003). Historic Jefferson Parish: From Shore-to-Shore (1st ed.). Pelican Publishing. pp. 127–128. ISBN0882890484.
^Widmer, Mary Lou (1993). New Orleans in the Twenties. Pelican Publishing. p. 23. ISBN0882899333.
Further readingedit
Richard Campanella, "Bienville's Dilemma: A Historical Geography of New Orleans", University of Louisiana at Lafayette, 2008, ISBN978-1887366854.
bayou, metairie, stranded, distributary, bayou, that, located, present, orleans, louisiana, jefferson, parish, louisiana, that, extended, from, area, known, river, ridge, bayou, john, filled, during, late, 19th, century, early, 20th, century, although, remnant. Bayou Metairie was a stranded distributary bayou that was located in present day New Orleans Louisiana USA and Jefferson Parish Louisiana USA that extended from the area known as River Ridge to Bayou St John Bayou Metairie was filled in during the late 19th century and early 20th century although remnants of Bayou Metairie persist 1 1849 Sauve s Crevasse map showing east west flow of Bayou Metairie The geologic record indicates that the Mississippi River 2600 years ago followed a course that became Bayou Metairie This flow pattern gave rise to river banks through alluvial deposition in that location With time the course of the river shifted to its present day location leaving behind a stranded waterway that was Bayou Metairie Its river banks of its past course remained as the long narrow strip of higher ground that is known as the Metairie Gentilly Ridge 1 This ridge as it followed Bayou Metairie was as much as a mile wide at its beginning becoming much narrower as it progressed eastward with a height of approximately seven feet 2 Water flow from the Mississippi River into Bayou Metairie was intermittent until approximately the year 1700 when it had ceased completely 3 Bayou Metairie meandered 20 miles eastward through present day Jefferson Parish and Orleans Parish following a path approximately parallel to the present course of the Mississippi River Eventually Bayou Metairie developed a northward outlet to Lake Pontchartrain the outlet becoming known as Bayou St John The sections east of Bayou St John came to be known as Bayou Savage and Bayou Gentilly 1 The locations of these distributaries and the Metairie Gentilly Ridge can be seen in the 1849 Sauve s Crevasse map Bayou Metairie and the narrow elevated banks that comprise the Metairie Gentilly Ridge had long been used by indigenous people in pre colonial times 4 Subsequently the land on the ridge was mostly used for small farms and gardens being fertile soil on high ground in centuries past of the region Only intermittently was Bayou Metairie navigable and then only by small boats depending on wind and tide 1 Small colonial farms were established by 1708 pre dating the city of New Orleans 5 In the early history of New Orleans smugglers and runaway slaves made use of Bayou Metairie and the accompanying ridge 3 As urban development continued in the region in the late 19th century and early 20th century Bayou Metairie was filled in with only remnants persisting by the early 1900s Some of the remnants include the area around Dueling Oaks in New Orleans City Park and the lagoons in the lower part of City Park 3 Early real estate developers promoted the location based on its easy access to New Orleans 3 The Metairie Gentilly Ridge which followed part of the course of Bayou Metairie is presently occupied by Metairie Road in Jefferson Parish Louisiana 1 Indigenous people in the region referred to Bayou Metairie as Bayou Tchoupitoulas while Spanish settlers knew it as Arroyo de la Alqueria French settlers referred to the Metairie Gentilly Ridge as Chemin de la Metairie 1 Gallery edit nbsp Remnant of Bayou Metairie in New Orleans City Park nbsp Remnant of Bayou Metairie as The Lake at Metairie Cemetery in New Orleans nbsp Peristyle at New Orleans City Park at a lagoon which is a remnant of Bayou MetairieReferences edit a b c d e f Campanella Richard March 8 2017 When a Bayou Ran Through Metairie Once Scenic Waterway Helped Shape New Orleans Cityscape New Orleans Times Picayune Retrieved 7 October 2019 Hemard Ned New Orleans Nostalgia Higher Ground PDF neworleansbar org New Orleans Bar Association Retrieved 10 October 2019 a b c d Campanella Richard March 10 2017 The Flow and Ebb of Bayou Metairie New Orleans Times Picayune Swanson Betsy 2003 Historic Jefferson Parish From Shore to Shore 1st ed Pelican Publishing pp 127 128 ISBN 0882890484 Widmer Mary Lou 1993 New Orleans in the Twenties Pelican Publishing p 23 ISBN 0882899333 Further reading editRichard Campanella Bienville s Dilemma A Historical Geography of New Orleans University of Louisiana at Lafayette 2008 ISBN 978 1887366854 Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge 29 59 00 N 90 07 15 W 29 98346 N 90 12091 W 29 98346 90 12091 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bayou Metairie amp oldid 1209865591, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
